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Castro V, Calvo G, Oliveros JC, Pérez-Del-Pulgar S, Gastaminza P. Hepatitis C virus-induced differential transcriptional traits in host cells after persistent infection elimination by direct-acting antivirals in cell culture. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29787. [PMID: 38988177 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) causes liver inflammation and fibrosis, leading to the development of severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Approval of direct-acting antiviral drug combinations has revolutionized chronic HCV therapy, with virus eradication in >98% of the treated patients. The efficacy of these treatments is such that it is formally possible for cured patients to carry formerly infected cells that display irreversible transcriptional alterations directly caused by chronic HCV Infection. Combining differential transcriptomes from two different persistent infection models, we observed a major reversion of infection-related transcripts after complete infection elimination. However, a small number of transcripts were abnormally expressed in formerly infected cells. Comparison of the results obtained in proliferating and growth-arrested cell culture models suggest that permanent transcriptional alterations may be established by several mechanisms. Interestingly, some of these alterations were also observed in the liver biopsies of virologically cured patients. Overall, our data suggest a direct and permanent impact of persistent HCV infection on the host cell transcriptome even after virus elimination, possibly contributing to the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Castro
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Calvo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Oliveros
- Bioinformatics for Genomics and Proteomics Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Gastaminza
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Matthaei A, Joecks S, Frauenstein A, Bruening J, Bankwitz D, Friesland M, Gerold G, Vieyres G, Kaderali L, Meissner F, Pietschmann T. Landscape of protein-protein interactions during hepatitis C virus assembly and release. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0256222. [PMID: 38230952 PMCID: PMC10846047 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02562-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Assembly of infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles requires multiple cellular proteins including for instance apolipoprotein E (ApoE). To describe these protein-protein interactions, we performed an affinity purification mass spectrometry screen of HCV-infected cells. We used functional viral constructs with epitope-tagged envelope protein 2 (E2), protein (p) 7, or nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B) as well as cells expressing a tagged variant of ApoE. We also evaluated assembly stage-dependent remodeling of protein complexes by using viral mutants carrying point mutations abrogating particle production at distinct steps of the HCV particle production cascade. Five ApoE binding proteins, 12 p7 binders, 7 primary E2 interactors, and 24 proteins interacting with NS4B were detected. Cell-derived PREB, STT3B, and SPCS2 as well as viral NS2 interacted with both p7 and E2. Only GTF3C3 interacted with E2 and NS4B, highlighting that HCV assembly and replication complexes exhibit largely distinct interactomes. An HCV core protein mutation, preventing core protein decoration of lipid droplets, profoundly altered the E2 interactome. In cells replicating this mutant, E2 interactions with HSPA5, STT3A/B, RAD23A/B, and ZNF860 were significantly enhanced, suggesting that E2 protein interactions partly depend on core protein functions. Bioinformatic and functional studies including STRING network analyses, RNA interference, and ectopic expression support a role of Rad23A and Rad23B in facilitating HCV infectious virus production. Both Rad23A and Rad23B are involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD). Collectively, our results provide a map of host proteins interacting with HCV assembly proteins, and they give evidence for the involvement of ER protein folding machineries and the ERAD pathway in the late stages of the HCV replication cycle.IMPORTANCEHepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes chronic infections in the majority of exposed individuals. This capacity likely depends on viral immune evasion strategies. One feature likely contributing to persistence is the formation of so-called lipo-viro particles. These peculiar virions consist of viral structural proteins and cellular lipids and lipoproteins, the latter of which aid in viral attachment and cell entry and likely antibody escape. To learn about how lipo-viro particles are coined, here, we provide a comprehensive overview of protein-protein interactions in virus-producing cells. We identify numerous novel and specific HCV E2, p7, and cellular apolipoprotein E-interacting proteins. Pathway analyses of these interactors show that proteins participating in processes such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein folding, ER-associated protein degradation, and glycosylation are heavily engaged in virus production. Moreover, we find that the proteome of HCV replication sites is distinct from the assembly proteome, suggesting that transport process likely shuttles viral RNA to assembly sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Matthaei
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Sebastian Joecks
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Annika Frauenstein
- RG Experimental Systems Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Planegg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Janina Bruening
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Dorothea Bankwitz
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Martina Friesland
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gabrielle Vieyres
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Junior Research Group “Cell Biology of RNA Viruses,” Leibniz Institute of Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lars Kaderali
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Felix Meissner
- RG Experimental Systems Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Planegg, Bavaria, Germany
- Systems Immunology and Proteomics, Institute of Innate Immunity, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
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3
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Stauffer W, Bobardt M, Ure D, Foster R, Gallay P. The Cyclophilin Inhibitor Rencofilstat Decreases HCV-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Independently of Its Antiviral Activity. Viruses 2023; 15:2099. [PMID: 37896876 PMCID: PMC10612079 DOI: 10.3390/v15102099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for the identification of new drugs that inhibit HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our work demonstrates that cyclophilin inhibitors (CypIs) represent such new drugs. We demonstrate that the nonimmunosuppressive cyclosporine A (CsA) analog (CsAa) rencofilstat possesses dual therapeutic activities for the treatment of HCV infection and HCV-induced HCC. Specifically, we show that the HCV infection of humanized mice results in the progressive development of HCC. This is true for the four genotypes tested (1 to 4). Remarkably, we demonstrate that rencofilstat inhibits the development of HCV-induced HCC in mice even when added 16 weeks after infection when HCC is well established. Importantly, we show that rencofilstat drastically reduces HCC progression independently of its anti-HCV activity. Indeed, the CypI rencofilstat inhibits HCC, while other anti-HCV agents such as NS5A (NS5Ai) and NS5B (NS5Bi) fail to reduce HCC. In conclusion, this study shows for the first time that the CypI rencofilstat represents a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCV-induced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winston Stauffer
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (W.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Michael Bobardt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (W.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Daren Ure
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Edison, NJ 08837, USA; (D.U.); (R.F.)
| | - Robert Foster
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Edison, NJ 08837, USA; (D.U.); (R.F.)
| | - Philippe Gallay
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (W.S.); (M.B.)
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4
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Carriquí-Madroñal B, Lasswitz L, von Hahn T, Gerold G. Genetic and pharmacological perturbation of hepatitis-C virus entry. Curr Opin Virol 2023; 62:101362. [PMID: 37678113 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) chronically infects 58 million individuals worldwide with variable disease outcome. While a subfraction of individuals exposed to the virus clear the infection, the majority develop chronic infection if untreated. Another subfraction of chronically ill proceeds to severe liver disease. The underlying causes of this interindividual variability include genetic polymorphisms in interferon genes. Here, we review available data on the influence of genetic or pharmacological perturbation of HCV host dependency factors on the clinically observed interindividual differences in disease outcome. We focus on host factors mediating virus entry into human liver cells. We assess available data on genetic variants of the major entry factors scavenger receptor class-B type I, CD81, claudin-1, and occludin as well as pharmacological perturbation of these entry factors. We review cell culture experimental and clinical cohort study data and conclude that entry factor perturbation may contribute to disease outcome of hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Carriquí-Madroñal
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany; Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany
| | - Lisa Lasswitz
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany; Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany
| | - Thomas von Hahn
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Interventional Endoscopy, Asklepios Hospital Barmbek, Semmelweis University, Campus Hamburg, 22307 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Hanover, Germany; Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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5
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Stauffer W, Bobardt M, Ure D, Foster R, Gallay P. The Cyclophilin Inhibitor Rencofilstat Decreases HCV-induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Independently of Its Antiviral Activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.19.553982. [PMID: 37645728 PMCID: PMC10462172 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.19.553982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for the identification of new drugs that inhibit HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our work demonstrates that cyclophilin inhibitors (CypI) represent such new drugs. We demonstrated that the non-immunosuppressive cyclosporine A (CsA) analog (CsAa) rencofilstat possesses dual therapeutic activities for the treatment of HCV infection and HCV-induced HCC. Specifically, we showed that HCV infection of humanized mice results in the progressive development of HCC. This was true for four genotypes tested (1 to 4). Remarkably, we demonstrated that rencofilstat inhibits the development of HCV-induced HCC in mice even when added 16 weeks post-infection when HCC is well established. Importantly, we showed that rencofilstat drastically reduces HCC progression independently of its anti-HCV activity. Indeed, the CypI rencofilstat inhibits HCC while other anti-HCV agents such as NS5A (NS5Ai) and NS5B (NS5Bi) fail to reduce HCC. In conclusion, this study shows for the first time that the CypI rencofilstat represents a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCV-induced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winston Stauffer
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Michael Bobardt
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Daren Ure
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Edison, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Foster
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Edison, New Jersey, USA
| | - Philippe Gallay
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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6
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Sachithanandham J, Balagopal A, Leep-Lazar J, Quinn J, Bowden K, Ward K, Ribeiro RM, Sulkowski MS. Second-Phase Hepatitis C Plasma Viral Kinetics Directly Reflects Reduced Intrahepatic Burden of Hepatitis C Virus. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:311-320. [PMID: 36722133 PMCID: PMC10420397 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mathematical models explain how antivirals control viral infections. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment results in at least 2 phases of decline in viremia. The first phase reflects clearance of rapidly produced virions. The second phase is hypothesized to derive from loss of infected cells but has been challenging to prove. METHODS Using single-cell methods, we quantified the number of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected hepatocytes in liver biopsies taken before and within 7 days of initiating direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in a double-blinded randomized controlled trial testing 2 (sofosbuvir-velpatasvir) versus 3 (sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir) DAAs. RESULTS We employed thousands of intrahepatic measurements in 10 persons with chronic genotype 1a HCV infection: median proportion of infected hepatocytes declined from 11.3% (range, 1.3%-59%) to 0.6% (range, <0.3%-5.8%), a loss of 75%-95% infected hepatocytes. Plasma viremia correlated with numbers of HCV-infected hepatocytes (r = 0.77; P < .0001). Second-phase plasma dynamics and changes in infected hepatocytes were indistinct (P = .16), demonstrating that second-phase viral dynamics derive from loss of infected cells. DAAs led to a decline in intracellular HCV RNA and interferon-stimulated gene expression (P < .05 for both). CONCLUSIONS We proved that second-phase viral dynamics reflect decay of intrahepatic burden of HCV, partly due to clearance of HCV RNA from hepatocytes. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02938013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaiprasath Sachithanandham
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashwin Balagopal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Julia Leep-Lazar
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeffrey Quinn
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenneth Bowden
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen Ward
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruy M Ribeiro
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Mark S Sulkowski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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7
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Kaps L, Limeres MJ, Schneider P, Svensson M, Zeyn Y, Fraude S, Cacicedo ML, Galle PR, Gehring S, Bros M. Liver Cell Type-Specific Targeting by Nanoformulations for Therapeutic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11869. [PMID: 37511628 PMCID: PMC10380755 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocytes exert pivotal roles in metabolism, protein synthesis and detoxification. Non-parenchymal liver cells (NPCs), largely comprising macrophages, dendritic cells, hepatic stellate cells and liver sinusoidal cells (LSECs), serve to induce immunological tolerance. Therefore, the liver is an important target for therapeutic approaches, in case of both (inflammatory) metabolic diseases and immunological disorders. This review aims to summarize current preclinical nanodrug-based approaches for the treatment of liver disorders. So far, nano-vaccines that aim to induce hepatitis virus-specific immune responses and nanoformulated adjuvants to overcome the default tolerogenic state of liver NPCs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis have been tested. Moreover, liver cancer may be treated using nanodrugs which specifically target and kill tumor cells. Alternatively, nanodrugs may target and reprogram or deplete immunosuppressive cells of the tumor microenvironment, such as tumor-associated macrophages. Here, combination therapies have been demonstrated to yield synergistic effects. In the case of autoimmune hepatitis and other inflammatory liver diseases, anti-inflammatory agents can be encapsulated into nanoparticles to dampen inflammatory processes specifically in the liver. Finally, the tolerance-promoting activity especially of LSECs has been exploited to induce antigen-specific tolerance for the treatment of allergic and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Kaps
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - María José Limeres
- Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul Schneider
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Malin Svensson
- Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Yanira Zeyn
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Silvia Fraude
- Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maximiliano L Cacicedo
- Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter R Galle
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephan Gehring
- Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Bros
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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8
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Mechanisms and Consequences of Genetic Variation in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 439:237-264. [PMID: 36592248 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15640-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important contributor to the global incidence of liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although common for single-stranded RNA viruses, HCV displays a remarkable high level of genetic diversity, produced primarily by the error-prone viral polymerase and host immune pressure. The high genetic heterogeneity of HCV has led to the evolution of several distinct genotypes and subtypes, with important consequences for pathogenesis, and clinical outcomes. Genetic variability constitutes an evasion mechanism against immune suppression, allowing the virus to evolve epitope escape mutants that avoid immune recognition. Thus, heterogeneity and variability of the HCV genome represent a great hindrance for the development of vaccines against HCV. In addition, the high genetic plasticity of HCV allows the virus to rapidly develop antiviral resistance mutations, leading to treatment failure and potentially representing a major hindrance for the cure of chronic HCV patients. In this chapter, we will present the central role that genetic diversity has in the viral life cycle and epidemiology of HCV. Incorporation errors and recombination, both the result of HCV polymerase activity, represent the main mechanisms of HCV evolution. The molecular details of both mechanisms have been only partially clarified and will be presented in the following sections. Finally, we will discuss the major consequences of HCV genetic diversity, namely its capacity to rapidly evolve antiviral and immunological escape variants that represent an important limitation for clearance of acute HCV, for treatment of chronic hepatitis C and for broadly protective vaccines.
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9
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Soni S, Singh D, Aggarwal R, Veerapu NS. Enhanced fitness of hepatitis C virus increases resistance to direct-acting antivirals. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35133954 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance mutations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) negatively impact viral replicative fitness. RNA viruses are known to change their replication behaviour when subjected to suboptimal selection pressure. Here, we assess whether mutation supply in HCV is sufficiently large to allow the selection of its variants during dual or triple direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment associated with augmented virus fitness or impairment. We engineered randomly mutagenized full-genome libraries to create a highly diverse population of replication-competent HCV variants in cell culture. These variants exhibited escape when treated with NS5A/NS5B inhibitors (daclatasvir/sofosbuvir), and relapse on treatment with a combination of NS3/NS5A/NS5B inhibitors (simeprevir or paritaprevir/daclatasvir/sofosbuvir). Analysis of the relationship between virus fitness and drug resistance of JFH1-derived NS5A-5B variants showed a significant positive correlation (P=0.003). At the earliest time points, intracellular RNA levels remain unchanged in both the subgenomic replicon and infection assays, whereas extracellular RNA levels increased upto ten-fold compared to wild-type JFH1. Beneficial substitutions hyperstimulated phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate during DAA treatment, and showed decreased dependence on cyclophilins during cyclosporine A treatment, indicating an interplay of virus-host molecular mechanisms in beneficial substitution selection that may necessitate infectious virus production. This comprehensive study demonstrates a possible role for HCV fitness of overcoming drug-mediated selection pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Soni
- Virology Section, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Deepak Singh
- Virology Section, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Rakesh Aggarwal
- Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226014, India
| | - Naga Suresh Veerapu
- Virology Section, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
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10
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Cultivation of Cells in a Physiological Plasmax Medium Increases Mitochondrial Respiratory Capacity and Reduces Replication Levels of RNA Viruses. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:antiox11010097. [PMID: 35052601 PMCID: PMC8772912 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in metabolic pathways are often associated with the development of various pathologies including cancer, inflammatory diseases, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Identification of the particular metabolic events that are dysregulated may yield strategies for pharmacologic intervention. However, such studies are hampered by the use of classic cell media that do not reflect the metabolite composition that exists in blood plasma and which cause non-physiological adaptations in cultured cells. In recent years two groups presented media that aim to reflect the composition of human plasma, namely human plasma-like medium (HPLM) and Plasmax. Here we describe that, in four different mammalian cell lines, Plasmax enhances mitochondrial respiration. This is associated with the formation of vast mitochondrial networks and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, cells cultivated in Plasmax displayed significantly less lysosomes than when any standard media were used. Finally, cells cultivated in Plasmax support replication of various RNA viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) influenza A virus (IAV), severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and several others, albeit at lower levels and with delayed kinetics. In conclusion, studies of metabolism in the context of viral infections, especially those concerning mitochondria, lysosomes, or redox systems, should be performed in Plasmax medium.
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11
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Stanciu C, Muzica CM, Girleanu I, Cojocariu C, Sfarti C, Singeap AM, Huiban L, Chiriac S, Cuciureanu T, Trifan A. An update on direct antiviral agents for the treatment of hepatitis C. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2021; 22:1729-1741. [PMID: 33896315 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2021.1921737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely transformed the management of this disease. The advantages of using DAA therapies include high efficacy (sustained virological response (SVR) rate >95%) with minimal side effects, good tolerability, easy drug administration (once daily oral dosing), and short duration of treatment (8-12 weeks). This transformative nature of DAA therapy underpins the goal of the World Health Organization to eliminate HCV infection as a public health threat by 2030.Areas covered: This review seeks to address the current status of DAA therapies, including recent developments, current limitations, and future challenges.Expert opinion: The current DAA regimens, with their high effectiveness and safety profiles, have changed patient perception of HCV infection from a disease that requires complex evaluation and long-term monitoring to a disease that can be cured after one visit to the general practitioner. Despite the remarkably high success rate of DAAs, few patients (4-5%) fail to obtain SVR even after treatment. Five years ahead, the landscape of HCV treatment will undoubtedly continue to evolve, and more pan-genotypic treatment options will be available to all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Stanciu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Cristina Maria Muzica
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Girleanu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Camelia Cojocariu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Catalin Sfarti
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Singeap
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Laura Huiban
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Stefan Chiriac
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Tudor Cuciureanu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Trifan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, ST. SpiridonEmergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
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Hatano Y, Ideta T, Hirata A, Hatano K, Tomita H, Okada H, Shimizu M, Tanaka T, Hara A. Virus-Driven Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2625. [PMID: 34071792 PMCID: PMC8198641 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer arises from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Even in the era of precision oncology, carcinogens contributing to neoplastic process are still an important focus of research. Comprehensive genomic analyses have revealed various combinations of base substitutions, referred to as the mutational signatures, in cancer. Each mutational signature is believed to arise from specific DNA damage and repair processes, including carcinogens. However, as a type of carcinogen, tumor viruses increase the cancer risk by alternative mechanisms, including insertional mutagenesis, viral oncogenes, and immunosuppression. In this review, we summarize virus-driven carcinogenesis to provide a framework for the control of malignant cell proliferation. We first provide a brief overview of oncogenic viruses and describe their implication in virus-related tumors. Next, we describe tumor viruses (HPV, Human papilloma virus; HBV, Hepatitis B virus; HCV, Hepatitis C virus; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus; MCV, Merkel cell polyoma virus; HTLV-1, Human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type-1) and tumor virus-related cancers. Lastly, we introduce emerging tumor virus candidates, human cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2). We expect this review to be a hub in a complex network of data for virus-associated carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Hatano
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (H.T.); (A.H.)
| | - Takayasu Ideta
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (T.I.); (M.S.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirata
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1194, Japan;
| | - Kayoko Hatano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu 501-1194, Japan;
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (H.T.); (A.H.)
| | - Hideshi Okada
- Department of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan;
| | - Masahito Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (T.I.); (M.S.)
| | - Takuji Tanaka
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology (DDP) and Research Center of Diagnostic Pathology (RC-DiP), Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu 500-8513, Japan;
| | - Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (H.T.); (A.H.)
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Bobardt M, Ramirez CM, Baum MM, Ure D, Foster R, Gallay PA. The combination of the NS5A and cyclophilin inhibitors results in an additive anti-HCV inhibition in humanized mice without development of resistance. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251934. [PMID: 34014993 PMCID: PMC8136729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We and others previously reported that the direct-acting agents (DAA) NS5A inhibitors (NS5Ai) and the host-targeting agents cyclophilin inhibitors (CypIs) inhibit HCV replication in vitro. In this study, we investigated whether the combination of NS5Ai and CypI offers a potent anti-HCV effect in vivo. A single administration of NS5Ai or CypI alone to HCV-infected humanized-mice inhibits HCV replication. The combination of NS5Ai with CypI suppresses HCV (GT1a, GT2a, GT3a and GT4a) replication in an additive manner. NS5Ai/CypI combinations provide a statistically more profound anti-HCV inhibition for GT2a and GT3a than GT1a and GT4a, leading to a fastest and deepest inhibition of GT2a and GT3a replications. Combining CypI with NS5Ai prevents the viral rebound normally observed in mice treated with NS5Ai alone. Results were confirmed in mice implanted with human hepatocytes from different donors. Therefore, the combination of NS5Ai with CypI may serve as a regimen for the treatment of HCV patients with specific genotypes and disorder conditions, which diminish sustain viral response levels to DAA, such as GT3a infection, cirrhosis, and DAA resistance associated with the selection of resistance-associated substitutions present at baseline or are acquired during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bobardt
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christina M. Ramirez
- Los Angeles (UCLA) Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Marc M. Baum
- Department of Chemistry, Oak Crest Institute of Science, Monrovia, CA, United States of America
| | - Daren Ure
- Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Edison, New Jersey
| | | | - Philippe A. Gallay
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Poljak M. Simplification of hepatitis C testing: a time to act. ACTA DERMATOVENEROLOGICA ALPINA PANNONICA ET ADRIATICA 2020. [DOI: 10.15570/actaapa.2020.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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15
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[Hepatitis C virus research so far and in the future]. Uirusu 2020; 70:129-134. [PMID: 34544927 DOI: 10.2222/jsv.70.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three researchers who contributed to the development of the disease concept ''non-A, non-B hepatitis'' and the isolation of its causative agent, hepatitis C virus (HCV). Technologies and experimental systems to analyze HCV have been greatly improved for these three decades, and the antiviral treatments against HCV have been developed. This review summarizes the effort to elucidate the HCV biology so far and the remaining subject to be solved in the future. I also introduce the studies to identify bioactive natural products by taking advantage of the HCV infection cell culture system.
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